Ryan

Certified Tutor

As a child in grade school, my parents were always amazed by the amount of mathematical calculations I could do in my head. I attended the Field School of Washington, D.C. as a 7th grade middle school student, and that opened the doors to my inquisitive journey in mathematics. As a commuter from Laytonsville, MD, I strived to be efficient like my older brother. I quickly learned to be independent, patient and disciplined. Time was always a concern of mine because of my long commute.

At an early age, I found that doing things the right way maximized my options and unveiled personal long-term satisfaction. I used the same approach to succeed in my math courses as I did to become a successful commuter. I was able to use my creative and critical thinking skills to easily apply proven mathematical strategies. I passed AP Calculus during my junior year in high school and was accepted to one of the top ABET accredited undergraduate programs in the country, Bucknell University, to pursue my interests in Mechanical Engineering.

At Bucknell University, I was privileged to have the opportunity to work with youth. As a sophomore, I volunteered at the Donald Heiter Community Center, where I helped grade school students accomplish their homework assignments and sharpen their reading skills. As a senior, I became a collegiate member of the National Society of Black Engineers and was the Vice President of Bucknell's local chapter. I took it upon myself to be a mentor. I provided words of motivation, established a "we can do anything" mentality and aided my fellow peers with their fundamental engineering courses. I not only accomplished my goal of graduating with a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics, I also developed my personal skills. I focused on being diligent. Treating my workload like a giant math problem and my ability to organize, prioritize and execute accelerated. I became an efficient communicator, vocally and in writing, and developed a keen eye for detail. Through extensive personal reflection, I realized I wanted to use my experience to relate to people, develop a greater sense of community and promote societal integrity.

After graduating, I found that my inquisitive and proactive nature would never dissipate. I enjoy asking questions, searching for answers, solidifying conclusions with experiences and sharing my journeys with others. I aspire to be a leader.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." ~ Theodore Roosevelt